MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was nowhere to be seen at the commemoration of the 154th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio in Caloocan City.
Instead, Vice President Leni Robredo and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana led the ceremonial rites at the Bonifacio National Shrine in Monumento, Caloocan City on Thursday morning.
Also present at the commemoration rites of the fallen Katipunan leader were Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero and Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan.
The ceremonial rites started at around 8 a.m.
VP Robredo, DND Sec Lorenzana, AFP chief Guerrero lead Bonifacio Day commemoration in Monumento pic.twitter.com/ZnwPacmflj
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) November 30, 2017
Lorenza laid down a wreath of flowers before the 45-foot Andres Bonifacio monument.
WATCH: Wreath laying at the Bonifacio Monument in Monumento circle @PhilippineStar pic.twitter.com/jBOGsWJ329
— Marc Jayson Cayabyab (@mjaysoncayabyab) November 30, 2017
Duterte likewise missed the 119th Independence Day rites at the Rizal Park in June. — with reports from Marc Jason Cayabyab